New Shortage Occupation List comes into effect
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has implemented changes to the Shortage Occupation List which take effect from 14 November 2011.The changes were first recommended in a report published by the Migration Advisory Committee in September. This report recommended that 29 occupations be removed whilst 33 specific job titles were added. The government accepted all of the recommendations made in the report.
Nearly all of the proposed changes came into effect on 14 November 2011. The exception is for ‘rank and file’ orchestral musicians; the government is in discussion with the industry about how to implement the resident market labour test.
The Shortage Occupation List relates to Tier 2 of the points based system. Migrants from outside the EEA hoping to come to the UK as a highly skilled migrant must apply for occupations or job titles as featured on this list.
Equally, employers can only bring skilled migrants to the UK under Tier 2 if their vacancy features on the list and after they have passed the resident labour market test (by advertising the position for four weeks in the UK first).
The changes to the list reduce the number of available places on the list to 190,000 from 230,000. The changes were based on evidence from industries and sectors where resident workers are available to fill the vacancies.
Occupations that the MAC recommended be removed from the list include:
- secondary education biology teachers
- speech and language therapists
- pharmacists
- orthoptists
- veterinary surgeons
- ‘rank and file’ orchestral musicians (presumably this excludes soloists)
Added to the list will be:
- actuaries
- high integrity pipe welders
- environmental scientists
- geochemists
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